Swim Drink Fish Blog
Read the latest updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, Artists for Water, and more.
Navigation Protection Act: open for public comment
In response to overwhelming feedback from the community and First Nations organizations, the Government of Canada has extended its review of navigation rights.
Waterkeeper's comments on review of changes to the Fisheries Act
On November 14, 2016, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper's founders, Mark Mattson and Krystyn Tully presented "9 Things the New Fisheries Act Must Do To Make Canada Healthy and Prosperous" on behalf of the organization, Fraser Riverkeeper, Fundy Baykeeper, North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper, and Ottawa Riverkeeper. Here is what they presented.
Waterkeeper's submission on the Navigation Protection Act Review
On Wednesday, November 30, 2016, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper submitted comments to the Government of Canada on changes made to the Navigation Protection Act (formerly, the Navigable Waters Protection Act) – one of Canada’s oldest laws. Here are Waterkeeper's 5 recommendations to the Committee.
Submission to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
On November 14, 2016, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper's founders, Mark Mattson and Krystyn Tully presented "9 Things the New Fisheries Act Must Do To Make Canada Healthy and Prosperous" on behalf of the organization, Fraser Riverkeeper, Fundy Baykeeper, North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper, and Ottawa Riverkeeper. Here is what they presented.
Waterkeeper's comments on the review of Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights and Regulations
Today, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper submitted comments to the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario regarding the review of Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights. The EBR is a powerful piece of legislation that has been the cornerstone of Waterkeeper's provincial work to protect swimmable drinkable fishable water for over a decade. It is also a key tool for Ontarians to participate in environmental decision-making processes. Read our complete submission here.
Did you know this is a monumental week for your swimmable drinkable fishable water?
Today, I am sharing something I have never shared outside our office before. Why? Because events are unfolding this week that will affect millions of Canadians for years to come. And I thought you’d want to know.
The fix is on: federal government launches review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act after law gutted in 2012
The worst year in the history of Canadian environmental protection was 2012. That year, the federal government gutted every major environmental law. The Fisheries Act no longer protected most fish or fish habitat. The Navigable Waters Protection Act no longer protected “water.” And the process by which major projects are reviewed was slashed. Today, Waterkeeper Mark Mattson sent a short submission to the Government of Canada endorsing the launch of new process to review environmental decision-making. Here is his submission.
MEDIA ADVISORY: 47 groups ask Federal Government to repeal changes to the Fisheries Act.
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper is one of 47 conservationists, Indigenous leaders, scientists and streamkeepers, who signed on a letter organized by Northern Confluence and strongly support a call for the Government of Canada to reform the country's essential fisheries law, the Fisheries Act. Read the letter.
Why I think Montreal’s sewage dump may be illegal
As an environmental lawyer, I know that major changes to the Fisheries Act in 2012, combined with special wastewater regulations that exempt sewage treatment plants from the standard rules, make these unchartered waters.
Government of Canada weakens Fisheries Act, again. (This time, it’s for the aquaculture industry)
Aquaculture facilities, like fish farms, pollute surrounding waters with pesticides, drugs and organic waste. The new regulations are intended to give more power to the aquaculture industry regulate itself.